47 years after 911 call, company unveils smartphone app

A US tech company, Biosynq Corporation says it is launching Alert-360, the first mobile 9-1-1 crowdsourcing smartphone app.

The launch will commemorate the first 9-1-1 call that was placed 47 years ago on February 16, 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama, USA, the company says.

“This historic call will be made in The City of Roseville and the system will also be launching in Oakland, CA.  Hong Sae, Roseville’s Chief Information Officer, will be making the world’s first crowdsourced 9-1-1 call at City Hall, in Roseville at the time of the original call at 12 noon”, Biosynq says.

App users receive real-time emergency alerts regarding 9-1-1 incidents that are crowdsourced from users in their area and as a result they can lend help or avoid an area, depending on the nature of the emergency.

The company says that, “Plus when Alert-360 users have their own emergency, they can get help from nearby users.  App users can also receive alerts when friends & family dial 9-1-1 from anywhere in the world and get emergency help when travelling, even when they don’t know the local emergency number.”

Also, the system instantaneously maps the caller’s location and transforms nearby users into “instant witnesses” that can submit photos and other incident information, which is then transmitted to public safety responders.

Among other features, the system can be used by individuals to enhance their own personal safety or by organizations & businesses to be notified whenever employees dial 9-1-1.

In communities with Alert-360, “help may be just around the corner,” notes Rick Diamond, CEO of Biosynq.

“As of 1/5/15 AMBER Alerts have helped rescue and return 728 children”, he adds noting that this child-rescue system and successful apps like Google’s “Waze” underscore the critical role that citizens can play in reducing crime.

The Alert-360 system automates this type of crowdsourced assistance and utilizes proprietary and patent pending technology to involve qualified citizens, improve response times and augment witness communications. While other emergency oriented apps exist, no other apps utilize real-time crowdsourcing to involve local citizens to enhance existing 9-1-1 services.